Officials seek video, patience from public in Wall, NJ incidents

WALL TOWNSHIP — The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office is looking for video recordings in two separate criminal investigations involving Wall High School students.

In a statement released Tuesday, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey said the department is investigating allegations of a hazing incident within the football program at Wall High School, as well as allegations of unrelated off-campus sexual assaults involving juveniles.

While the office didn't indicate how many off-campus sexual assaults are being investigated, it did say one or more. The office also indicated that because juveniles are involved specific information cannot be released under state law.

"We are aware of the unique pressures that the intense focus of these matters places on the Wall Township High School community and we're really sensitive to safeguarding the mental well-being of students while at the same time seeing that justice is done," Linskey said in a video on the office's Facebook page.

She said that statements coming from her office are the only factual accounts of the investigation and urged against the spread of misinformation.

Wall High School (Dan Alexander, Townsquare Media NJ)

Linskey said her office has assumed sole responsibility for the investigation, with Wall Township Police no longer part of the investigation to avoid any appearance of impropriety and to protect the integrity of the investigations.

"I want to assure the public that multiple assistant prosecutors and detectives are diligently working on this matter right now but we really need your help," Linskey said.

She asked anyone with information or video to contact MCPO Detective Jose Rodriguez at 732-431-7160 ext. 7172.

Information can also be submitted anonymously to Monmouth County Crime Stoppers by calling their confidential telephone tip-line at 1-800-671-4400 or at monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com.

The allegations have cost the Crimson Knights football team two games, including the announcement Tuesday that their annual Thanksgiving game against Manasquan has been canceled.

The Mental Health Association of Monmouth County is working with the high school's counselors to provide support for students.

Superintendent Tracy Handerhan is scheduled to address the allegations during Tuesday night's Board of Education meeting. It was moved to the high school auditorium to accommodate an anticipated large crowd.

The reported locker room incident was first reported by NJ.com, citing parents involved in the investigation, who said that six upperclassmen athletes had been seen in a video, pinning down a younger athlete and threatening to sexually assault him with the handle of a mop or broom.

One of the students implicated in the locker room hazing, has also been accused of sexually assaulting at least one girl in an unrelated incident. That student had been released from custody as of Thursday.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNJ